As WP's senior editor, I edit review and preview articles, attempt to keep up with the frantic pace of Rainier's news posts, and keep our reviewers on deadline, which is akin to herding cats. When I have a moment to myself and don't have my nose in a book, I like to play action/RPG, adventure and platforming games.

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'Crimson Tears' (PS2) In Stores NOW

Crimson Tears features distinctive cel-shaded 3D characters and fast-paced fighting action intermixed with stylish CG movie sequences that unfold the enigmatic sci-fi story. The three main characters explore the headquarters of “A.R.M.A.,” the weapons manufacturer that created them. A mysterious incident has affected areas around the compound and has warped the city and buildings into a persistently shifting labyrinth. Utilizing their martial arts training and weapons they find in the labyrinth, they must battle their way past waves of biological weapon creations and fight their way to the core of A.R.M.A., where the answers to the mysteries lie.

Crimson Tears includes the following features:

Three playable characters – Each has unique special abilities and unique moves

Amber – An android who was created as a weapon; she is quick and skilled with close-range weapons, especially when wielding her twin swords

Kadie – A newly created humanoid biological weapon who is naïve due to her lack of experience; despite an innocent appearance she is very powerful and is a master at handling large weapons

Tokio – A quick-witted humanoid biological weapon who has a keen sense of justice; he is an expert with firearms and is especially adept with twin pistols

Automatic “dungeon” creation system – The labyrinths are comprised of various “dungeons” which are based on futuristic conceptualizations of areas in Tokyo including sewers, subway stations and more with layouts, enemies, and items changing each time through

Central home base – Various routes to the different dungeons can be accessed through a home base point where players can exchange items found in the labyrinth between the three main characters, expand their repertoire of moves and view various data

Numerous enemy threats – Different kinds of enemies, which are also biological war weapons, appear in each dungeon, requiring strategic combinations of martial arts attacks and weapon-based combat for victory

Customizable weapons and martial arts moves – The dynamic battle system involves collecting items to customize the arsenal of fighting moves and the various weapons